Reformation Report

Principle 7: The Kingdom of God gives man dominion over the Earth.

This is a biblical world view, based on Genesis when God told Adam and Eve that they had dominion over all creation. As long as they obeyed Him, dominion was theirs (Hebrews 2:8). When they fell, however, they lost the glory and image of God, and lost dominion over Creation. Satan took the throne vacated by Adam and Eve and exercised his dominion over the earth, and death filled the world (Hebrews 2:14-15).

 

All generations following Adam and Eve have inherited their fallen nature, and all have come under the power and dominion of Satan. God, however, provided salvation through Jesus Christ and the cross on Calvary. Jesus came into the world to rescue mankind from Satan’s power. Jesus gave His life as a ransom, to buy us back, destroy the works of Satan in our lives and to return dominion to mankind.

 

Once again we have dominion over the earth through Christ, with God-ordained power to rule, subdue and change the earth. Unfortunately much religion and witchcraft paint the picture of a world with irresistible forces that have the power to overwhelm the individual. Whether these forces are called God, gods, the devil, scientific socialism, capitalism, Marxism, or Zionism, our world view determines how we live. Many in Africa are still bound by witchcraft. So many Africans are waiting for life to happen to them, but god created man to be the protagonist and make life happen.

 

Only the Kingdom of God can bring true reformation to a society. Islam has tried, and of course failed, but sadly traditional Christianity has failed as well, particularly in Africa. The church must take a hard look at itself because, until now, it has not truly affected African ancestral beliefs nor changed the basic cultural understanding of the contemporary societies on the continent. It is difficult to question a culture, but until we can change some key elements of the African culture, we will be forced to live according to the old proverb, “Attempting the same things, expecting different results.”

 

The Kingdom of God is the answer for every problem on earth, whether in Africa, the United States, or elsewhere. The answer for Africa is not to look at capitalism, free enterprise or the so-called developed nations. If Africans would look with all their hearts to the word of God, they would find that what God promises is far better than the materialism of the West and the asceticism of the East. Africa does not have to remain a culture bankrupt by witchcraft, but we can develop a culture built on respect for human life with all the virtues and values set forth in the Scriptures. Then Isaiah chapter 60 will become a living reality to the people who for too many years have been written off as “The Dark Continent.”

 

“Arise, shine; for your light is come,

And the glory of the LORD is risen on you.

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

and gross darkness the people:

but the LORD shall arise on you,

and his glory shall be seen on you.

And the Gentiles shall come to your light,

and Kings to the brightness of your rising.

Lift up your eyes round about, and see:

all they gather themselves together, they come to you:

your sons shall come from far,

and your daughters shall be nursed at your side.

Then you shall see, and flow together,

and your heart shall fear, and be enlarged;

because the abundance of the sea shall be converted to you,

the forces of the Gentiles shall come to you.

The multitude of camels shall cover you,

the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;

all they from Shebashall come: they shall bring gold and incense;

 and they shall show forth the praises of the LORD.

All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you,

the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you:

 they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,

and I will glorify the house of my glory .(Isaiah 60 AKJV)

Principle 6: the Kingdom of God exhibits intentionality – intentionally making room for people of all “nations, tribes and languages.”

In John’s account in the book of Revelation of his vision of heaven he described seeing “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9 NIV). If the Kingdom of God looks like that in heaven, shouldn’t our churches look like that on earth? Such churches do not happen by accident; they are built as we intentionally and deliberately open our arms, hearts, and doors to people of all nations, tribes and languages.

 

This is not easy, particularly in a country such as Zimbabwe that has been torn apart by racial hatred, but that was our vision from the beginning. In the early days we attracted many white faces, I assume because they were comforted by the fact that as the senior pastor I was white – but that is not an accurate picture of Zimbabwe. The reality is that Zimbabwe and Africa are more than 99 percent black. We felt our church had to be more reflective if the population, rather than drawing from only a small segment. As Joseph Garlington of Reconciliation Ministries says, “In a divided society, only the church can model unity.” That was why we believed it was imperative that we build and model a multiracial church.

 

At first it was difficult to attract black African leaders and members – I’m sure for a number of good reasons. Many of the missionaries and white church leaders had either taken on the trappings of colonialism or created structures that made church members and leaders dependent on outside help. We began to address this by intentionally creating opportunities that would attract strong leaders. We started working with young black leaders who embraced the message of the kingdom of God, and also reached out to the other communities in Zimbabwe’s multiracial society – Colored, Indian and the many tribes, ethnic groups and nationalities.

We knew that if we were to model true reconciliation, we not only had to worship together, but also live the gospel together. The story of Jacob and his father-in-law, Laban, became the pattern from which we developed these principles of reconciliation in our congregation (Genesis 30).

We developed a rule that whenever we ministered we would do so with a “speckled branch.” Every time there was public ministry, we featured both black and white, colored, Indian and any other nationality we could, and we presented them before the eyes of the congregation. It has been a blessing for us to see this principle take hold and continue to foster a cross-cultural mix in our church membership, and the church has become a congregation representing all nations, all ethnic groups and all tribes coming together in unity.

Sadly, once the church was more than 50 percent black African in its membership, many of the white African members began to feel uncomfortable. We lost people who could not see the vision or embrace it, or because they were faced with their own prejudices and fears – the age-old battle of class and racial prejudice.

 

During the past 30 years, there has been a mass exodus of Europeans from Rhodesia and now Zimbabwe, something known as the “white flight.” In the early days of the church, this had a negative affect not only on me as a leader, but also our congregation, because each year hundreds of people would emigrate – often with little or no warning. Over the past 20 years, I estimate more than 5000 of our church members emigrated. Many of them would speak negatively about the country, the church and their lives in Zimbabwe, in order to justify their departure. These negative words, attitudes, and actions sent tidal waves across the congregation and each year I felt compelled to speak on topics such as building vision, national pride, honoring heroes, the blessings of faithfulness, and leaving an inheritance for future generations.

Yet we persevere because we know that in a divided society such as the one we live in, only the church can model unity. Our focus continues to be building and modeling a multiracial church.

Practical response to critical need

I wrote this letter as an expression of our attempt to influence for change and reformation in the medical sphere. Unfortunately, it is in the midst of crisis.

Dear friends,

More than twenty years ago I went to a bus stop and was confronted with a starving Mozambican refugee baby nursing on the dried breast of its equally starving mother, I was shocked to think that this could happen to a person, and thanked God that I was serving Him in Zimbabwe where such things never happen.  I was so moved by that scene, that I started our relief and development program which fed and clothed refugees for the next 14 years. Subsequently to the crisis, we developed irrigation schemes in the country, assisted clinics, cared for up to 2000 orphans and built and manned our own Celebration orphanage.

Today however I was again confronted with a sight that made my blood chill and my hair stand on end as I accompanied our medical team to the Budiriro Clinic and Beatrice Road Hospital, in two of Harare's suburbs. I saw the conditions on the ground where our brave, underpaid and overworked doctors and nurses are working against overwhelming odds, to try to control an epidemic of cholera that now has put the whole nation of Zimbabwe at risk.

I cannot adequately describe the scene which is forever etched in my memory. When we arrived at Beatrice Road Hospital there were literally hundreds of patients in a screening area outdoors under a tree, exposed to rainy season torrential rain. Many seated in the waiting area were lethargic, and most had soiled their clothes with diarrhea and vomit. All hoped to be cared for and treated for the severe dehydration symptoms they were facing. There were only a few nurses and one doctor for the whole hospital, as the doctors had gone on strike, and the nurses were going on strike as we arrived. The conditions were just too hard and the situation too bleak for the medical personnel to continue. When we visited the wards there were a number of patients in the cots or on the floors, all the floors were covered in diarrhea and vomit, while a team sprayed large quantities of disinfectant from spray packs and others tried to mop things up with rag mops. When I was taken to the children's ward though, is when it hit me the hardest. We were informed that most of these deaths occurred among children  often because they dehydrate so rapidly that a vein for rehydration fluids could not be found, or because all of the needles to administer the fluids were for adults, and were too large for children's veins.

As we walked through the hospital many of the patients still tried to smile and comfort those of us visiting, as if to say they were sorry for making us uncomfortable because they are so sick. Our tour ended with a visit to the Mortuary; where there is room for 18 bodies, but was full with more than 20 bodies stacked in body bags, including 2 children that had just been quickly thrown onto the floor.

The morale of the staff was palpably low and the atmosphere of discouragement and death was tangible.When we talked with nurses we learned that they were discouraged not only at the long hours that they had to work combined with the extreme lack of resources and staff. This situation has been worsened by 500 million percent inflation rate and the daily withdrawal limit of Z$500 000.00(less than a US cent). Frequently the ATM's are out of order and medical personnel's late hours of work make bank access for cash  withdrawal impossible. Currently it is not possible to utilize Zimbabwean credit cards, checks or another local payment system called "RTGS". The entire nation therefore now operates on cash payments, either in  Zimbabwe dollars or foreign currency. Since prices are now almost completely  being quoted in US  dollars, payment in Zimbabwe dollars alone  makes life impossible for these committed health workers.

We have mobilized our church, health care workers and friends from around the world to begin to raise funding that will give  a viable renumeration to those professionals who still value their calling, that we can recruit and call back to man the stations, with better supplies and basic compensation.

Secondly, we have mobilized additional teams of doctors and nurses to complement the good work being done by Harare City Health staff. These teams  will be deployed to current and any future treatment camps in Harare - obviously, similar support is required in the rest of the country.

Thirdly, we have established a command center based in Harare to coordinate and manage this massive mobilization. We have put in a place a team of responsible and professional team players to help execute this massive task, and be accountable for the full disbursement of all aid received in whatever form.

This is reformation at work - albeit only responding to the crisis at this time. I believe it will lead to the establishment of a world class health and wellness center and a reformed medical delivery system.

Michelangelo The Reformer.

 

 

Michelangelo is considered to be one of the greatest artists whoever lived. He accomplished many of his greatest works before he was 30. In 1501, at the age of 26, while looking at a piece of raw marble he had a revelation, and envisioned a sculptured image of the biblical King David.

To everybody else it was just a piece of stone. During the years 1500-1504 he would sculpt what would become one of the worlds most renowned masterpieces.

 

The story of Michelangelo represents “the archetypal reformer” of the Renaissance era. During the time of the reformation in history we see a period of unprecedented illumination that affected nearly every sphere of life. Books and particularly the bible were being printed on the newly invented printing press. Ordinary people were able to read the bible for the first time. People were hungry for the word of God and as they read, they obtained a wisdom that until that time had been virtually hidden from them; the word of God began to illuminate their minds. They were inspired by God to see beyond the ordinary. This set in motion an age of creativity, full of new and innovative ideas and concepts. The whole era was captured in the domains of art and inventiveness, and still inspires artists and innovators today.

However, some of us today have become old not only in body but in thought. Some of us are nostalgic, saying things like, “I remember when…” Some of us live in a fog of a value system, which we think we used to have and we lament on how it doesn’t exist anymore. Can I tell you something? IT DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE!

Unless we are willing to go create a new one we are going to continue living in a fog of a value system that does not exist anymore wishing that it still did, kidding ourselves that it still does. If we remain old in our thoughts we will not progress into the future. For any of us to really succeed and advance in the current era we will need to embrace the word of God in our lives. We need God’s inspiration.  The world in its current situation does not lack knowledge, we however desperately need wisdom. Wisdom is a gift that comes from God. Like Michelangelo we need to visualize the dominion we are called to reform, that is see it the way God sees it. If we are going to reform ourselves or for that matter a nation we will need to do it according to God’s pattern and principles. As we visualize our families as God does, it will only be a matter of time before we create great masterpieces called functional families. As we begin see the economy through Gods eyes and act in ways to reform the way things are done it won’t be long and our economies will look the way he intended them to look. We are going to have to want to study the

Word of God if we are going to see things God’s way. However, we have a wonderful promise found in Matthew 6:33, “Seek yea first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things will be added you.”

I want to encourage each of us to read our bibles everyday, with the expectation that as we do, God will begin to show us new ideas on how we can influence our domains and spheres of influence.